Do "Fat" scales really work?

See the new Consumer Reports. They are consistent, but not very accurate. They work sort of.

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 21:35:27 GMT, "Pat Fleming" <[email hidden]>

may have said:

To all of us who are "fat content conscious", do those scales that claim to measure fat content
really work?

From a visiting health professional:

If your personal characteristics conform precisely to those used to generate the lookup data
programmed into the scale, then they're likely to be reasonably accurate for you. The chances that
they are "somewhere sort of close" for people of average physique and average development are not
too bad, but the chances of their being dead on target are probably worse than the chance that a
randomly selected woman can comfortably wear a randomly selected bra in what is nominally her
numeric and cup size. (Guys, if you don't understand the ramifications of that comparison, ask your
designated female answer provider.)

Estimating body fat requires comparison of a fairly extensive number of factors. Estimating it
accurately is not likely to be accomplished by such a device, particularly for those whose fat
content is already fairly low.

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Pat Fleming said:

To all of us who are "fat content conscious", do those scales that claim to measure fat content
really work?

In my experience, they do, within limits. I'm not certain they are accurate absolutley, but they are
accurate relatively.

Let me explain. My scale tells me I an 27% fat. I think that is higher than actual, but I can then
use that number as a baseline. when my scale tells me I am 26%, I know I have lost fat.

Caveats include the need to measure at the same time each day, and not soon after waking,excercise,
or eating.

"Pat Fleming" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

To all of us who are "fat content conscious", do those scales that claim to measure fat content
really work?

The best "fat scale" is a mirror. If you can see fat, you're too fat.

Matt O.

I bought a Tanita scale last spring, and it said my body fat content was 27%. Consistently. I have
since lost 15 pounds, and it still says that my body fat content is 27%. Consistently. You would
think that with losing about 7.5% of my total weight it would have picked up a little difference
between the before and after...

[email hidden] (Bonnell Frost) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

See the new Consumer Reports. They are consistent, but not very accurate. They work sort of.

Quoted message said:

"Pat Fleming" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

To all of us who are "fat content conscious", do those scales that claim to measure fat content
really work?

The readings on mine seem to swing based on my hydration level...

Fred

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Pat Fleming" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

To all of us who are "fat content conscious", do those scales that claim to measure fat content
really work?

The best "fat scale" is a mirror. If you can see fat, you're too fat.

This method doesn't work well for people with eating disorders.

--
Dave...

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Pat Fleming" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

To all of us who are "fat content conscious", do those scales that claim to measure fat content
really work?

The best "fat scale" is a mirror. If you can see fat, you're too fat.

Matt O.

If you can see your fat, you probably have a very serious injury...

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Pat Fleming" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

To all of us who are "fat content conscious", do those scales that claim to measure fat
content really work?

The readings on mine seem to swing based on my hydration level...

Significantly.

Rick

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Estimating body fat requires comparison of a fairly extensive number of factors. Estimating it
accurately is not likely to be accomplished by such a device, particularly for those whose fat
content is already fairly low.

No, but the *relative* readings, like before and after a weighloss program, should still say
something, no?

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 14:20:30 +0100, "Steve Collier"

may have said:

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Estimating body fat requires comparison of a fairly extensive number of factors. Estimating it
accurately is not likely to be accomplished by such a device, particularly for those whose fat
content is already fairly low.

No, but the *relative* readings, like before and after a weighloss program, should still say
something, no?

"Say something", yes. "Say something accurate and meaningful"? Only maybe. It is perfectly possible,
as part of a weight-loss program that includes exercise, to have an exchange of fat mass for muscle
mass. In that case, the scale's indication will show less improvement than has been achieved.
Additionally, as has been hinted elsewhere, hydration levels have a lot to do with what those scales
say. This is why many "diet pills" seem to work for some people; the pills, in many instances, are
primarily diuretic, and reduce hydration...which the scale will cheerfully misreport as a reduction
in fat content.

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